When talking about scuba diving destinations around the world, you’ll most popularly hear about scuba diving in the Caribbean, Mexico, Belize, Thailand, Indonesia, South Pacific Islands and so on. You’ll rarely hear about destinations in the African continent other than Egypt, Red Sea diving  and Shark cage diving in South Africa. Truth is, Africa holds some of the best kept scuba diving secrets in the diving world. Mozambique is one such destination….uncrowded, unspoiled and absolutely spectacular underwater.

Mozambique,  Mocambique or, simply Moz, is a Southeastern African country with a beautiful coastline to the Indian Ocean. The diving is world class with the dive sites thriving with rich coral life and offering both smaller marine life like harlequin shrimps and the tiny leaf fish to large marine life including a lot of sightings of whale sharks, manta rays and other shark species.

You would be pleasantly surprised at the the quality, professionalism and experience of dive shops in Mozambique, especially if you imagined a lack of good diving infrastructure. Although mostly PADI dive centers, they cater for all levels of experience including for the beginners who can complete their open water certification here. Its lure though, are the numerous dive spots on offer in Mozambique, most of which have clear, uncrowded waters with abundant marine life. Of them all though, here are a few worth a special mention:

The Bazaruto Archipelago- Accessible from the town of Vilanculos on the mainland as well as from one of the Bazaruto island lodges, the Bazaruto Archipelago has no shortage of dive sites. In fact the marine life is so prolific that you can just walk into the sea off the beach and spend many contented hours snorkeling or scuba diving and not be disappointed. The 2 Mile Reef lying just outside Benguerra Island and Bazaruto is an amazing reef with picturesque swim throughs, walls and pinnacles. This long reef can be dived at various depths down to around 20 meters and offers a wide variety of life including 5 species of turtles, reef sharks, nurse sharks, dolphins, devil rays and big pelagic game fish that visit from the deep. It’s one of the few spots in the world where you could encounter the elusive and nearly extinct dugongs, if you are lucky that is.

Barra Reef - Some rate this reef well above the Red Sea and even the famed Great Barrier reef, for it’s pristine condition and limitless diving possibilities. Wrapped in coral reefs from 300meters to 3000+ meters off the shore in all directions, the crystal blue lagoon is incredibly calm and inviting for as many dives as you would like. Hugely popular for it’s resident whale sharks and manta rays that can be spotted almost all year round, the humpback whales can be an added bonus if you happen to visit between June to October. The coral is spectacular and varied with many arches and tunnels and caves for those who like to play. And to top it off, price wise it’s one of the most reasonable places to dive in the world.

Jangomo Bay- Another stunning area with lots of dives on offer, the Jangomo Bay has coral gardens, walls and deeper reef dives with caves, gullies and drop-offs for the more advanced or adventurous divers. An abundance of marine life in the reefs of this region, you can expect to see nudibranches, small fry, cuttle-fish, mantis shrimp, pipe fish, cleaner shrimp, crocodile fish, scorpion fish, leaf fish, frog fish, stone fish, turtles, white-tip reef sharks and a multitude of reef fish plus cowries and cone shells. Top top it off like other part of Mozambique the dive sites come with a high change to see manta rays and whale sharks glide by.

This is just a tiny glimpse of what this scuba diving wonder has on offer. So, the next time you’re up for a new and exciting scuba diving trip, give Mozambique a thought and who knows, you might be returning there over and over again!

*Image Credits: photos by Earth-touch Admin, jon hanson, ParaScubaSailor on flickr

© Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog, 2011. | Scuba Diving The Unspoiled Mozambique is an original article from Aquaviews.net | Be the first to comment!

There are hundreds and hundreds of great dive destinations around the world, each offering divers a glimpse of what the Ocean’s have to offer. Some display the best coral while others a dazzling array or marine life like pelagics or the best of the shark world. It’s unfortunate that you can’t see it ALL in one place. To make it harder some locations are seasonal in terms of what you see when you dive there certain times of the year. So in a way, great marine encounters are all about being at the right place, at the right time and whether you’re dying to spot a graceful manta ray or gentle giant whale sharks or even fiercest predator the great white shark… we’re here to help you make your marine encounter dreams a reality.

Here’s a look at where and when to best encounter some of the most popular marine animals, and if you’re into underwater photography- don’t forget to take your underwater cameras with you!

The Best Manta Ray Encounters
Easily one of the most sought after marine encounters in the diving world, is the Manta Ray and Koh Bon in Thailand, Komodo in Indonesia, the Maldives, Black Rock in Myanmar and Kadavu in Fiji to name a few, are some of the places you are most likely to have the best manta ray sightings.

Kona, Hawaii – All year round
South Plaza Island, Galapagos Islands
Bali/ Raja Ampat (Irian Jaya), Indonesia – April/ May
Maldives – May to November
Rangiroa, Tahiti – May to October
Yasawa Islands, Fiji – June to November
Koh Bon, Thailand – October to May

The Best Whale Shark Encounters
Known as the gentle giants, whale sharks are always a delightful sight on a dive. 14 km east of the Mu Koh Surin marine park is the dive site of Richelieu Rock in the famous stretch of Andaman Sea lying between the Similan and Surin Islands renowned as whale shark territory. Although there are many sites in Thailand for diving with whale sharks, Richelieu Rock is your best bet.

Richelieu Rock, (Andaman Sea) Thailand – February to April
Bay Islands, Honduras – January to April.
Zanzibar, Tanzania (East Africa) – February and March.
Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia- March to June.
Belize- April to June
Galapagos Islands- May to August
Trinidad and Tobago- May to August
Seychelles – August
Djibouti (Africa)- October to March
Kenya (Africa)- November to January

The Best Shark Encounters
For what nightmares are made of, there’s no where in the World like Gansbaai, South Africa to encounter the so called ‘man-eater’ Great White. Nassau in the Bahamas, Rhode Island in the U.S, the Cocos Island in Costa Rica and Rocas Atoll in Brazil are all up there in the Top 5 shark diving destinations in the world!

Protea Banks, South Africa ( Hammerhead, Zambezi, Bull, and Tiger Sharks)- November to June
Nassau, Bahamas (for Bull Sharks and Tiger Sharks)- February and March
Cocos and Malpelo Islands, Costa Rica (for Hammerhead Sharks) -July October.
Layang Layang, Malaysia (for Hammerhead sharks) – March
Galapagos Islands – July through October.
Guadalupe, Mexico (for great whites) – August to November
Aliwal Shoal, South Africa (for Ragged-tooth sharks)/Raggies -July to August
Canary Islands – October to November
Raine Island, Northern Queensland,Australia (for Tiger Sharks) – October and November
Southern Mozambique (Hammerhead and Zambezi sharks) – November to March
Rangiroa Island, Tahiti (for Hammerhead Sharks)- January to February
Maldives (for hammerheads)- May to November
Turks & Caicos Islands (for Nurse sharks) – June

The Best Coral Reef Life Encounters
The marine waters and reefs around Indonesia, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Solomon Islands and Timor-Leste together known as the Coral triangle, is believed to be the global epicenter or center of origin for most coral reef species and probably the best showcase of reef life in the world.

ALL YEAR ROUND -As a diver, there is no other place on earth where the sheer diversity of different species can be observed in a single area. From the largest migratory whales, whale sharks, sharks, dugong, dolphin and Manta Rays, to yellowfin tuna, skipjack tuna, bigeye tuna, bumphead parrotfish, and Napoleon wrasse, there is no place other than the Coral Triangle where sheer number of these creatures can be spotted. Six of the world’s seven species of marine turtles including the green, hawksbill, olive ridley, leatherback, loggerhead, and flatback can be found in the triangle.

*Photo Credits: photos by Dude Crush, Marcel_Ekkel, dantheurer, Tom Weilenmann on flickr

© Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog, 2010. | The Best Marine Life Encounters The World Over is an original article from Aquaviews.net | Be the first to comment!

Cayman Brac is a small island just 19km (11.8 miles) long and 2km (1.2 mi) wide that forms one of the three Islands of the Cayman Islands located just south of Cuba in the Caribbean. Grand Cayman is the largest of the three, and just 100 miles or so northeast of it lays Little Cayman and Cayman Brac. During the days of piracy in the Caribbean, Cayman Brac was a safe haven for pirates who would use the Island and its numerous caves for anchorage and replenishment of supplies. Today, the Island is a perfect getaway in the Caribbean renowned for its diving.

Diving conditions in the Caymans is second to none, and with an astonishingly clear underwater visibility usually ranging from 150′ to 200′, the reefs of Cayman Brac are perfect for snorkelers or scuba divers to explore its waters.  While there are dive sites catering to all kinds of divers, Cayman Brac dive sites are renowned primarily for their abundant Wall and Wreck Diving sites. There are over 46 frequented dive sites from which at least 20 are wall diving sites and four ship wrecks to explore.

Out of the four ship wrecks, the Russian Frigate 356 – MV Capt. Keith Tibbetts is perhaps the most popular, and is a 330 foot vessel with its bow in 85 feet of water, and the stern in 60 feet. Sunk in 1996 the wreck is relatively intact and can be visited by both snorkelers and divers. This wreck is a must do dive for anyone visiting Cayman Brac, and there are over 100 species of fish inhabiting the wreck which is partially penetrable and made diver friendly.

The wall diving at Cayman Brac is simply breathtaking. Wall dive sites surround all sides of the island and are teeming with of all types, colors, and sizes of coral and sponges cascading down the wall faces. Each wall is peppered with small caves and ledges that are waiting to be explored. One of the best walls to dive at is located in the Bloody Bay Marine Park which is technically a Little Cayman site, but easily accessible by boat from Cayman Brac. This site has been rated frequently by several dive magazines and sites as one of the best wall diving sites in the world. With underwater ledges starting at 20 feet and dropping suddenly to a few thousand feet honeycombed with caves and crevices, this one mile long wall is near the deepest part of the Caribbean Sea. The abundance of coral life and sponges are second only to the hundreds of species of fish and marine life that inhabit this region. The big-lipped Nassau Grouper and Turtles are regular features of this site.

Getting to Cayman Brac is relatively simple. Tourist can get in from the US Mainland (Miami) through Grand Cayman where smaller aircraft transport you to the airstrip at Cayman Brac. LeisurePro Travel currently offers up amazing Cayman Brac packages for 7 nights on either resort or liveaboard.  The Brac Reef resort package Includes 7 nights Standard accommodations, airport transfers, breakfast and dinner daily and 12 boat dives with Reef Divers, and the second diver gets half off!

photos from flickr by: lyng883, Venson Kuchipudi, joeduty

© Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog, 2010. | Dive Cayman Brac the Caribbean’s Wall Diving Capital is an original article from Aquaviews.net | Be the first to comment!

Cocos Island, Costa Rica is not a dive destination for the faint hearted. If you are a true hardcore diver, and aren’t afraid of large schools of pelagic fish,  Sharks and Hammerheads,  and don’t mind travelling a great distance to experience some of the best shark diving in the world, then Cocos Island  is just the place for you.

Situated in the Pacific Ocean a mere  550 km (340 mi) off the coast of Costa Rica and just north of the famous Galapagos Islands, Cocos is an uninhabited speck of a volcanic island with an area of 23.85 km² (9.2 mi²) rising up from the Pacific depths. Covered in lush tropical rainforest, and speckled with hundreds of waterfalls, this enchanting island served as the backdrop for the filming of the movie Jurassic Park.  Both the Island and the waters surrounding it are declared a Costa Rican National Park and are protected from fisherman or visitors by Costa Rican Park Rangers.

To get to Cocos Island, the nearest airport is located in the capital of Costa Rica, San Jose. From San Jose you need to travel by bus to the Pacific coastal town of Puntarenas which is the jumping off point to the Cocos Island. From Puntarenas you have three options, all live-aboard boats since there is no accommodation or even camping allowed on the Island. The three boats permitted to conduct dive operations are the Undersea Hunter, the Sea Hunter, and the Okeanos Aggressor each well equipped dive ships with experienced dive instructors who have been diving the islands waters for years. The trip from Puntarenas on the liveaboard takes approximately 30-40 hours, but the trip is well worth it once you finally arrive.

As enchanting as the island is, the main attraction lies below the surface which is why the Cocos Island was named one of the best 10 scuba diving spots in the world by PADI and numerous other dive authorities. From the largest schools of hammerhead sharks in the World, to eagle rays, manta rays, silky sharks, Galapagos sharks, sailfish, wahoo, jacks, and the list simply goes on and on!  Schooling hammerheads are usually “guaranteed” sighting, and large vortexes of pelagic fish such as jacks are so common that fish at other sites elsewhere in the world will seem to pale in comparison.  Large fish and predators seem to be the theme of every dive on Cocos, and you will probably get to see almost each and every species of shark and ray during the course of your trip.

The diving off Cocos Island is meant for the more experienced diver, as currents can be strong, dive sites deep with chances of being swept away into the open waters. Liveaboard diving is usually upto 5 dives a day and Some sites often require Nitrox or experience with rebreathers to get the bottom time necessary to enjoy the sites without scaring away the hammerheads. Almost every dive site is rated as Skill Level Advanced, so make sure you have the necessary degree of comfort  in your diving skills if you plan to dive here.

Leisurepro Travel offers a brilliant Cocos Island Dive Package aboard the Okeanos Aggressor which includes 7 nights accommodations aboard the Okeanos Aggressor, airport and/or hotel transfers on day of charter, all meals, snacks, non-alcoholic beverages, local beer and wine, an average of up to 4 or 5 dives per day (depending on weather and itinerary), compressed air tanks, weights and belts. For more information visit LeisurePro Travel.

photos from flickr by g-na, ClifB, petersbar

© Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog, 2010. | Dive the Cocos Islands in Costa Rica is an original article from Aquaviews.net | Be the first to comment!

Of all the the creatures on this planet Sharks have earned quite the reputation, good and bad. Some admire this fierce predator of the seas while most have a fear of of the creature that even keeps them out of the waters.  For those of you that fall in the second category you may want to read our post on Overcoming The ‘Jaws’ Factor When You Dive cos this post isn’t for the faint hearted. For those of you ready to face your fear or or undertake the seemingly insane pursuit of intentionally taking the plunge in shark infested waters here are the Top 5 Destinations in the World for Diving with Sharks-

1. Gansbaai, South Africa
For what nightmares are made of, there’s no where in the World like South Africa to encounter the so called ‘man-eater’ Great White. 12kms offshore from Gansbaai (160km from Cape Town), there are two islands Dyer Island and Geyser Rock where all the action takes place. The islands covered with seals and jackass penguins are like a ready to eat fast food meal for the sharks who patrol the shallow and narrow channel that runs between the two islands, as if they were at a McDonald’s drive-thru.

Jump in a cage here an all that’ll separate you from the most feared shark in the sea is a few metal bars. It’s a front row seat to watch the dinning frenzy and maybe a closer encounter with a curious great white when it checks out your cage. You’re guaranteed you’re moneys worth and an experience of a lifetime.

2. Nassau, Bahamas
Think cage diving is for wussies? Want a little more thrill and excitement? How about coming face-to-face with tens of reef sharks without the metal protection. Nassau attracts tons of divers every year to witness a swarm of reefies in a feeding frenzy. The difference however is that the sharks are lured by the dive master/operators dressed in chain-mail that feed them while the other divers play spectators down below unnoticed by the hungry sharks.

With no cage or protection the thrill of this high can be described as a powerful dose of prozac. Shark encounters include tens of blacktip or white tip reef sharks circling you feeding on bait and on rare occasion and run in the daddy of all sharks -the great white.

3. Rhode Island, United States
A combination of frigid waters and plenty of sharks makes this one of the top shark diving destinations. Point Judith, three hours offshore of New England may not seem like a great place to dive, especially since the Atlantic’s bone-chilling waters aren’t very inviting. However, the migratory blue sharks have made it their pit stop on a long journey to the coast of South America.

Pulled in by chumming the waters (throwing in bait to lure sharks and fish), the blue sharks are drawn here for the diving which is done from a cage. Their slender bodies and pointed snouts are quite distinguishably different form other shark species. The fearless may opt to go cage-free but this isn’t advisable.

4. Cocos Island, Costa Rica
A must dive site for shark diving enthusiasts, Cocos Island is a unique spot to dive with literally hundreds of hammerhead sharks. Ranked as the 6th Best dive site by the PADI network, it’s a live-aboard only dive destination as it’s situated some 300 miles off the main coast of Costa Rica.

The silhouette view of swirling hammerheads as you gaze up on a dive here is an intense and almost surreal diving experience. The sheer numbers of hammerheads is shocking and makes you wonder if there are any fish left around there. Apart from hammerhead sharks, white tips, bull and whale sharks are frequently spotted in these parts too.

5. Rocas Atoll (Atol das Rocas), Brazil
A lagoon off the coast of Brazil in the Brazilian State of Rio Grande do Norte, 260 km (160 mi) northeast of Natal is volcanic formed island. This atoll was designated by UNESCO as a World Heritage Site because of it’s rich marine and coral life. The warm waters in this area are home to a caucus of brightly colored tropical fishes, coral reefs and it’s predator—the lemon shark.

With a thriving population of lemon sharks here, which pose very little threat to humans it’s possible to dive with a school of about 30 sharks at once making it a tangy experience.

*Photo Credits: photos by manoellemos, Le Grand Portage, underwatertourist, twellsv, AlKok on flickr

© Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog, 2010. | Top 5 Shark Diving Destinations in the World is an original article from Aquaviews.net | 4 comments

One of the best rated and top 10 dive destinations in the World is a tiny dot on the map in the South China Sea- Malaysia’s only oceanic island Sipadan on Borneo. The island of Sipadan which is a limestone pinnacle rising from 600 meters from the seabed in the Celebes Sea was described by the famous late French underwater explorer and diver Jacques-Yves Cousteau as “…an untouched piece of art.”

A legendary dive destination, Sipadan is a magnet and bio-diversity hotspot of Southeast Asia drawing in big fish like barracudas, large schools of trevally, horse-eye jacks, reef sharks and bumphead parrotfish. It’s coral reefs housed in turquoise blue waters are also home to dozens of breeding hawksbill and green turtles that have become accustomed to divers making it a great spot to get up close and person with these gentle reptiles. The most negative thing we can think of and say about diving in Sipadan is with the wealth of marine life and sheer number of things vying for your attention a lot can be missed. The walls are unparalleled and brimming with innumerable macro life and fish species that’ll rival most destinations across the globe. However, the big fish encounters here definitely take the cake.

Rated the 3rd best dive site in the world by ScubaTravel and most favored dive site in Sipadan is ‘Barracuda point’. While there are no guarantees the chances are you’ll find yourself in the center of a swirling vortex of…any guesses?…yes, Barracudas!! The current here is strong but then again that’s what brings in the food which duly brings the big fish here. Apart from barracuda species like the chevron barracuda and blacktail barracuda you see huge schools of jacks, tuna, bannerfish, redtooth triggers. plenty of turtles as usual and Grey reef sharks looking for a quick lunch. Another exciting dive site is the “Drop Off” that looks straight down into an abyss of 600 meters (close to 2000ft) or more. If your lucky you may even catch sight of a few giant manta rays playing nearby.

If you enjoy spotting sharks, at the ‘hanging gardens’ another stunning wall dive with a drop off into the deep blue you can encounter a living wall of hundreds of Hammerhead Sharks rising like ghosts from the deep and occasionally the lucky may get a chance to see the extremely rare thresher shark or fox shark.

With 10-14 top notch dive sites on offer Sipadan has truly earned it’s reputation as the best of the best. The close by reefs of Mabul and Kapalai are fantastic for spotting rare mandarin fish, sea wasps and lots of nudibranchs but Sipadan is what a diving experience should be all about…abundant and untouched marine life to be viewed and enjoyed.

Sipadan in our books is fine diving at it’s finest and a must dive destination we hope will live up to it’s name for years and years to come.

*Photo credits: photos by Dave Bluck, JennyHuang, Jared Kelly, Daniel, Daniel Kwok on flickr.

© Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog, 2010. | Diving at Sipadan Island, Borneo – An Untouched Piece of Art is an original article from Aquaviews.net | One comment

Ranked no. 1 by PADI as a top dive destination and featuring on almost every divers must-dive destination list, the island of Cozumel off the Mayan Coast of Mexico is a feast for eyes. Both a luxury resort destination coupled with fantastic diving, Cozumel draw divers to the island by the thousands with its stunning visibility and good diving infrastructure.

Located just 12 miles off the coast of the Yucatan Peninsula, Cozumel is the largest island in the Caribbean. The island is a mere 28 miles / 9 meters long and 10 miles / 2 meters wide and is surrounded by gorgeous reefs and pristine clear waters. Cozumel is actually a conglomeration of many different coral formations and personalities, as a series of separate reefs make up the over 20 highly popular diving areas of Cozumel, including a labyrinth of tunnels, dramatic swim through’s and canyons lying amidst the towering coral plateaus teeming with marine life.

The two main coral reef systems surrounding Cozumel are the Colombia and Palancar reefs which house many of the islands favorite dive sites. Easily accessible with plateaus beginning in waters only 30 feet (9 meters) deep, Cozumel reefs boast of abundant underwater sea life and brilliant colors, often referred to by many scuba divers as some of the best Scuba diving of their lives. Famous for its drift diving, currents range from gentle 1/2 knots near some dive sites to fast, strong currents only for experienced adventurous drift divers. The night diving here too is incredible.

For beginners to intermediate divers, the Chankanaab Lagoon is one of the most popular sites on the island. Divers and snorkelers can observe small coral and limestone formations at just 6 to 30 feet (2 to 9 meters). A unique experience is the mixing of cold fresh water that flows out of the limestone caves called cenotes on top as you can still feel the warm salt water below. A very popular spot for night diving. Other novice dive sites include- Paradise Reef, Las Palmas Wall, Balones of Chancanab, Shallow Palancar and more.

For divers who like a little challenge, Cozumel has a host of dive sites suitable for the experienced. Popular for it’s impressive wall dives with brilliant colors and sea life that have people raving about it, there are some stunning drop-off worth fighting the currents to see.The Wall at the Santa Rosa Reef begins at 50 feet and drops straight away into the deep blue. A brisk current accompanies you as you spot great beds of tunicates, immense sponges, huge overhangs of stony corals and impressive caves and tunnels. Easily one of the most popular deep drift dives of the Island, eagle rays and turtles are often spotted here as well as large groupers. Another of Cozumel’s most popular deep dives is the Palancar Caves because of its deep buttresses, tunnels, caves and big caverns that sit along the edge of a sloping wall. The currents are usually mild, but marine life is abundant.

The “Punta Sur” dive site is particularly popular among experienced divers and especially underwater photographers for its incredible topography. Due to the site’s southern location tot he island the conditions can be rough with fast running midwater currents that can cause one to miss the dive site entirely! The most famous section of this site called the “Devil’s Throat”, starts inside a coral swim through. After descending into the opening of a dark narrow tunnel at 90 feet you are suddenly welcomed into a sunlit opening at 130 feet on the wall overlooking the abyss. The ‘Columbia Deep’, ‘Maracaibo Wall’, ‘Punta Tunich’, ‘Yucab (Virgin) Wall’, ‘Barracuda’s Wall’ and the “Mountains” of San Juan are other challenging sites for advanced divers.

Cozumel even offers a Wreck Dive – the C-53 Xicotencatl. Sunk in the year 2000 just outside of Balones de Chankanaab, on a sandy plain between Tormentos & Chankanaab,the C-53 is 184 feet long & 33 feet wide and consists of 4 decks.

Touted as one of the “best dive locations in the world”, a variety of underwater wonders awaits you at Cozumel, home to the only inland coral reef formation in the world. A Scuba divers mecca, Cozumel has the best diving the Caribbean has to offer and will not disappoint, that we assure!

*Photo Credits: photos by Frank Peters, Scubaben, CasaDeQueso, bbialek905 on flickr

© Aquaviews - SCUBA Blog, 2009. | Paradise Reefs: Diving in Cozumel, Mexico is an original article from Aquaviews.net | 4 comments